Pile fabric water-repelling and finishing process



United States Patent PILE FABRIC WATER-REPELLING AND FINISHING PROCESS Harold Krauss, 243 Nesbit Terrace, Irvington, NJ.; Hugo Moses, 30 Roberta Lane, Syosset, N.Y.; and- Edward Liebman, 3223 90th St., Jackson Heights, N.Y.

Filed Mar. 29-, 1957, Ser. No. 649,532

1 Claim. c1. 26-2) water-repelling and finishing process for treating synthetic pile fabric material the step ofblowing hot air ontothe synthetic pile fabric that will separate the individual pile fibers from one another and put a bloom and luster finish on the face of the fibers. f

It is further object of theinvention toprovidea process for water-repelling'and finishing synthetic pile'fabri cs which requires only a minimum amount of equipment and wherein the process can be effected in a short duration of time.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a process for water-repelling and finishing pile fabric which can be carried out in a simple manner, requires only simple apparatus, is ecective in use, is inexpensive to carry out, requires only minimum labor and is efiicient in use.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus used for spraying the fabric with the water-repelling and finishing liquid with an illustration being shown as to the manner in which a coat formed of this material is supported on a rack and in which a spray gun applies the liquid to the fabric.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the heated drying cabinet in which the garments are placed after they have been sprayed with the liquid, and

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the garment after it has been taken from the drying cabinet and is being treated with hot air to luster finish and give a bloom to the pile fibers.

According to this process a water repelling liquid hearing luster producing or finishing ingredients is used in carrying out this process and commonly used on pile fabric, furs and the like material to render them water repellent and luster finished. The liquid is particularly adapted for application to the synthetic fabrics. This liquid when heated and used in a spray gun readily atomizes to produce a fine spray that will coat the pile fibers to render them water-repellent. The process to be described is equally effective upon piece goods as upon coats and similar garments. In carrying out the process, the chemical water-repelling liquid is placed in a pressure tank 10 that is preferably portable and may be moved about on caster wheels 11. This liquid is placed into the vessel and a cover 12 is scaled down. This cover has a safety valve 13 thereon. An air compressor 14 delivers air under pressure to a line 15 having an air filter 16. This air can be forced through a branch pipe 2,979,363 Patented Feb. 7, 1961 17, a pressure regulator valve 19, a shut off valve 20 and pressure gauge 21 into the tank 10. This air will apply pressure to the surface of the liquid within thetank 10 so that liquid is forced through a hose 22 to a spray gun.

A second branch air line 18 extends from the line 15 through a shut off valve 24, a regulator 25, a pressure gauge 26, an air heater 27, a hose 28 and to the spray gun 23. With the shut off valve 24 being closed the air on the top of the tank 10 will be delivered through a pipe 29, air'heater 27 and hose 28 to the spray gun 23. With the valve 20 in the branch line 17 shut off and valve 24 open the air will be delivered directly to the hose line 28 and pressure applied to the tank through the branch 29.

The air heater 27 is supplied with electric current through cable 30 and switch 31. a light 33 is provided in the electric circuit to indicate when the heater 27 is p on. With the spray gun operating the water-repellent and finishing liquid is applied in such a manner to the pile fabric as to separate pile fibers. The liquid is atomized by the spray gun with the heated air and a fine spray is forced upon the pile fibers to coat them. The spraying can be'elfected on both the back and front faces of the fabric. The application of the liquid is not such as is intended to render the garment water proof butmerely to make it Water-repellent. The pores of the fabric backing will not be filled with the liquid and the individual fibers are merely coated so that when the fabric'has been finally processed the fabric material can breathe and air is permitted to pass through it. The pressure gauges for the tanks and valves may be adjusted and regulated for an air pressure from twentyfive to thirty-five pounds per square inch, the air pressure selected depending upon the speed with which the gun is used with the hand of the operator. With the higher pressure the gun can be manipulated faster than if the pressure is low and the operation completed in a much shorter time. The spray gun is preferably used with a down and up stroke over the garment. At times the spray is applied at both the front and back and at other times it is only necessary to apply the liquid to the front or pile face of the fabric.

After the coat has been sprayed it is placed in a heated drying cabinet 35 having a door 36 that can be opened for insertion of the garments thereinto. The garments will be supported by hangers 37 upon a support rod 38. On the top of the cabinet is an air intake 39 in which an electrically-operated air suction fan 40 is operated to draw in the air and force it downwardly over a steam heated coil 41 so that the air will be heated to a temperature from one hundred to one hundred and fifty degrees Fahrenheit. This air is blown downwardly as indicated by the arrows and is taken with any fumes to the exterior of the building by an outlet pipe 42 leaving the cabinet from the lower portion thereof. The garments are left in the drying cabinet from five to twenty minutes. Thereafter, a garment is taken from the cabinet and is supported upon a board 43 as shown in Fig. 3 and is worked over with a hot air nozzle 44 to put a'bloom in the fibers and to give the garment a luster finish. The temperature of this hot air will range from one hundred and twenty-five degrees to one hundred and seventy-five degrees Fahrenheit. When the fibers have been worked on sufiiciently through use of heat and friction and the luster finish is obtained, the garment is then placed in a room through which is circulated dry air of room temperature and is cooled.

The hot air which is blown upon the fabric will give to the liquid thereon an effect similar to actual rubbing so that the individual fibers are in effect polished by the heated air in such a manner as to give the individual fibers a high polish or luster the same as upon ashoesurs. face as a result of physical rubbing with a cloth or brush. At the same time, the pile fibers are separated from one another and the coating upon the individual fibers will have been such as to eliminate any possibility of the fibers adhering to one another.

The finished garment will be waterarepellent as the individual fibers will have been water proofed and their tendency toward saturation with water having been greatly impeded. At the same time the fibers will have been given a bright finish or luster. The garment or pile material so treated will be prevented from becoming stained with liquids and is not easily matted or creased;

This process has also been found adaptable for ren dering furs water-repellent and for efiecting a luster upon them. The furs are similarly, sprayed with a combined water-repellent and luster finishing liquid and thereafter subjected to heated air of the drying cabinet at similar temperatures and for a similar period of time. Instead of using the hot air spray as is used with pile fabric, the fur piece could be worked upon with a hot iron to finally luster finish the fur. The hot iron directly contacts the fur with a rubbing action and supplies heat and friction to work the coated hair fibers to provide a finish thereon. The hot iron may have a temperature from two hundred to two hundred and fifty degrees Fahrenheit. Thereafter the furs will be allowed to cool at a room temperature of about seventy degrees Fahrenheit.

While various changes may be made in the manner in which the process is carried out, it shall be understood that these changes, where there is any change in the de! ta'il structure of the apparatus, shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as definedby the appended claim.

What. is. claimedv is: p

A method of treating synthetic pile fabric material to render it water repellent *and give it a luster finish which consists of spraying with a spray gun a combined water repellent and luster liquid together with heated air at a pressure from twenty five to thirty-five pounds per square inch depending upon the speed with which the gun is used by the operator upon the fabric material by working the gun with strokes or passes over the pile fibers, subjecting the sprayed material to a flow there over of drying air ofv a temperature from one hundred degrees to one hundred and fifty degrees Fahrenheit for a period of five to. twenty minutes, thereafter working the fibers with an air noz'zle by blowing hot air of a temperature ranging from. one hundred and twenty-five degrees to one hundred and seventy-five degrees Fahrenheit over the fibers to separate the individual fibers and work abloomintothefibers .to give. a luster thereto, and finally placing the material in a room through Which is. circus lated dry air at room temperature to dry and cool the same.

Referencesflited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

